The gun and ammunition were found last Tuesday, in the boys' backpacks at Wilson Junior High in Manitowoc.

However, because it's juvenile court, cameras were not allowed inside the hearing. Also because it's juvenile court, FOX 11 is not allowed to identify the boys.

Both boys were in court for less than 10 minutes and entered "denial pleas" on three charges.

The boys are each charged with: possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, possessing a firearm in a school zone, and carrying a concealed weapon.

Police were called to Wilson Junior High March 14, after some students told the school's resource officer that the boys had a gun. When police arrived they found that one of the boys had a loaded .22 caliber revolver in his backpack and the other boy had ammunition.

Police say the boys are being held at the Manitowoc juvenile detention center, where they have been since Tuesday when they were arrested.

Authorities say the boys told police they brought the gun to school for protection because they were afraid of threats allegedly made against them.